e10vq
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
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þ |
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007
OR
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 |
For
the transition period from
to
Commission file number 0-22705
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
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33-0525145
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
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12790 EL CAMINO REAL, SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA
(Address of principal executive office)
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92130
(Zip Code) |
(858) 617-7600
(Registrants telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed
by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months
(or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2)
has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days: Yes þ No o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer,
or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer
in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer þ Non-accelerated filer o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the
Act). Yes o No þ
The number of outstanding shares of the registrants common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, was 37,987,965 as of April 30, 2007.
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
FORM 10-Q INDEX
2
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except for share information)
(unaudited)
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March 31, |
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December 31, |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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ASSETS |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
78,457 |
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$ |
80,981 |
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Short-term investments, available-for-sale |
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88,334 |
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101,623 |
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Receivables under collaborative agreements |
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274 |
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7,191 |
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Other current assets |
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3,248 |
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3,863 |
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Total current assets |
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170,313 |
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193,658 |
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Property and equipment, net |
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88,882 |
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91,378 |
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Restricted cash |
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5,250 |
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5,250 |
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Prepaid royalty |
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94,000 |
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94,000 |
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Other non-current assets |
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5,270 |
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5,391 |
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Total assets |
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$ |
363,715 |
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$ |
389,677 |
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS EQUITY |
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Current liabilities: |
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
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$ |
13,910 |
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$ |
15,627 |
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Deferred revenues |
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36 |
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Current portion of long-term debt |
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3,877 |
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4,489 |
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Total current liabilities |
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17,823 |
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20,116 |
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Long-term debt |
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48,526 |
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49,152 |
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Other liabilities |
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5,663 |
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5,693 |
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Total liabilities |
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72,012 |
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74,961 |
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Commitments and contingencies |
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Stockholders equity: |
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Preferred stock, $0.001 par value; 5,000,000 shares
authorized; no shares issued and outstanding |
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Common stock, $0.001 par value; 110,000,000 shares
authorized; issued and outstanding shares were 37,919,511
as of March 31, 2007 and 37,905,988 as of December 31, 2006 |
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38 |
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38 |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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724,412 |
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721,930 |
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Accumulated other comprehensive income |
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324 |
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99 |
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Accumulated deficit |
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(433,071 |
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(407,351 |
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Total stockholders equity |
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291,703 |
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314,716 |
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Total liabilities and stockholders equity |
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$ |
363,715 |
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$ |
389,677 |
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See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except loss per share data)
(unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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Revenues: |
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Sponsored research and development |
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$ |
86 |
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$ |
5,878 |
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License fees and milestones |
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5,358 |
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Sales force allowance |
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8,240 |
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Grant revenue |
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18 |
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Total revenues |
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104 |
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19,476 |
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Operating expenses: |
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Research and development |
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19,061 |
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27,735 |
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Sales, general and administrative |
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8,317 |
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19,335 |
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Total operating expenses |
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27,378 |
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47,070 |
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Loss from operations |
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(27,274 |
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(27,594 |
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Other income and (expenses): |
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Interest income and other income |
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2,424 |
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2,662 |
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Interest expense |
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(870 |
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(969 |
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Total other income |
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1,554 |
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1,693 |
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Net loss |
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$ |
(25,720 |
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$ |
(25,901 |
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Net loss per common share: |
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Basic and diluted |
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$ |
(0.68 |
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$ |
(0.69 |
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Shares used in the calculation of net loss per common share: |
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Basic and diluted |
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37,908 |
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37,355 |
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See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
(unaudited)
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
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Net loss |
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$ |
(25,720 |
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$ |
(25,901 |
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Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
used in operating activities: |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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2,561 |
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2,666 |
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Deferred revenues |
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36 |
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(4,358 |
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Share-based compensation expense |
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2,409 |
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6,788 |
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Change in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Accounts receivable and other current assets |
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7,532 |
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(3,991 |
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Other non-current assets |
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76 |
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(529 |
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Sales force allowance prepayment |
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8,240 |
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Accounts payable and accrued liabilities |
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(1,717 |
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(4,551 |
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Other non-current liabilities |
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(30 |
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1,286 |
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Net cash used in operating activities |
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(14,853 |
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(20,350 |
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CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
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Purchases of short-term investments |
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(38,996 |
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(61,021 |
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Sales/maturities of short-term investments |
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52,555 |
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121,183 |
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Purchases of property and equipment |
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(65 |
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(722 |
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Net cash provided by investing activities |
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13,494 |
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59,440 |
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CASH FLOW FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
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Issuance of common stock |
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73 |
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13,910 |
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Principal payments on long-term obligations |
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(1,238 |
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(1,454 |
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Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities |
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(1,165 |
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12,456 |
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Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents |
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(2,524 |
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51,546 |
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Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period |
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80,981 |
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49,948 |
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Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period |
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$ |
78,457 |
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$ |
101,494 |
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See accompanying notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
5
NEUROCRINE BIOSCIENCES, INC.
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein are unaudited. These
statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States for interim financial information and with the instructions of the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) on Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not
include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these
financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary
for a fair presentation of the financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the
periods presented. The results of operations for the interim period shown in this report are not
necessarily indicative of results expected for the full year. These financial statements should be
read in conjunction with the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk and the
audited financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2006 included in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC.
The terms Company and Neurocrine are used in this report to refer collectively to
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. and its subsidiaries.
2. ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF BUSINESS
Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. discovers, develops and intends to commercialize drugs for the
treatment of neurological and endocrine-related diseases and disorders. The Companys product
candidates address some of the largest pharmaceutical markets in the world, including insomnia,
anxiety, depression, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, pain, diabetes and other neurological
and endocrine related diseases and disorders. The Company currently has nine programs in various
stages of research and development, including six programs in clinical development. While the
Company independently develops many of its own product candidates, Neurocrine is in collaboration
with one of its programs. The Companys lead clinical development program, indiplon, is a drug
candidate for the treatment of insomnia.
On May 15, 2006, the Company received two complete responses from the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) regarding the indiplon capsule and tablet NDAs. These responses indicated that
indiplon 5 mg and 10 mg capsules were approvable (FDA Approvable Letter) and that the 15 mg tablets
were not approvable (FDA Not Approvable Letter).
The FDA Approvable Letter requested that Neurocrine reanalyze data from certain preclinical
and clinical studies to support approval of indiplon 5 mg and 10 mg capsules for sleep initiation
and middle of the night dosing. The FDA Approvable Letter also requested reexamination of the
safety analyses. The Company held an end-of-review meeting with the FDA related to the FDA
Approvable Letter in August 2006. This meeting was specifically focused on determining the actions
needed to bring indiplon capsules from Approvable to Approval in the resubmission of the NDA for
indiplon capsules. At the meeting the FDA requested that the resubmission include further analyses
and modifications of analyses previously submitted to address questions raised by the FDA in the
initial review. This reanalysis has been completed. The FDA also requested, and the Company has
completed, a supplemental pharmacokinetic/food effect profile of indiplon capsules including
several meal types. The NDA for indiplon capsules is targeted to be resubmitted to the FDA by the
end of the second quarter of 2007.
The FDA Not Approvable Letter requested that Neurocrine reanalyze certain safety and efficacy
data and questioned the sufficiency of the objective sleep maintenance clinical data with the 15 mg
tablet in view of the fact that the majority of the indiplon tablet studies were conducted with
doses higher than 15 mg. Neurocrine held an
end-of-review meeting with the FDA related to the FDA Not Approvable Letter in October 2006.
This meeting was specifically focused on determining the actions needed to bring indiplon tablets
from Not Approvable to Approval in
6
the resubmission of the NDA for indiplon tablets. The FDA has
requested additional long-term safety and efficacy data with the 15 mg dose for the adult
population and the development of a separate dose for the elderly population. In discussions,
Neurocrine and the FDA noted positive efficacy data for sleep maintenance with both indiplon
capsules and tablets. On the basis of these discussions, the Company is formulating a strategy to
pursue a sleep maintenance claim for indiplon. The evaluation of indiplon for sleep maintenance is
ongoing and includes both indiplon capsules and tablets.
On June 22, 2006, Pfizer and the Company agreed to terminate their collaboration and license
agreements to develop and co-promote indiplon effective December 19, 2006. As a result, Neurocrine
reacquired all worldwide rights for indiplon capsules and tablets and is responsible for any costs
associated with development, registration, marketing and commercialization of indiplon.
3. IMPACT OF RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
In
February 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) issued Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
LiabilitiesIncluding an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 expands the use
of fair value accounting but does not affect existing standards which require assets or liabilities
to be carried at fair value. Under SFAS 159, a company may elect to use fair value to measure
accounts and loans receivable, available-for-sale and held-to-maturity securities, equity method
investments, accounts payable, guarantees and issued debt. Other eligible items include firm
commitments for financial instruments that otherwise would not be recognized at inception and
non-cash warranty obligations where a warrantor is permitted to pay a third party to provide the
warranty goods or services. If the use of fair value is elected, any upfront costs and fees related
to the item must be recognized in earnings and cannot be deferred, e.g., debt issue costs. The fair
value election is irrevocable and generally made on an instrument-by-instrument basis, even if a
company has similar instruments that it elects not to measure based on fair value. At the adoption
date, unrealized gains and losses on existing items for which fair value has been elected are
reported as a cumulative adjustment to beginning retained earnings. Subsequent to the adoption of
SFAS 159, changes in fair value are recognized in earnings. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after November 15, 2007 and is required to be adopted by the Company in the first quarter
of 2008. The Company does not expect the adoption of SFAS 159 to have a material impact on its
consolidated results of operations and financial condition.
During the first quarter of 2007, the Company adopted the following accounting standard, which
did not have a material effect on its consolidated results of operations or financial condition:
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FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an
interpretation of FASB No. 109. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income
taxes recognized in an entitys financial statements in accordance with FASB Statement No.
109, Accounting for Income Taxes and prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement
attributes for financial statement disclosure of tax positions taken or expected to be
taken on a tax return. See note 12. |
4. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION
The Companys net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 includes $2.4
million and $6.8 million, respectively, of compensation expense related to the Companys
share-based compensation awards. The compensation expense related to the Companys share-based
compensation arrangements is recorded as components of sales, general and administrative expense
($1.3 million and $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively)
and research and development expense ($1.1 million and $2.1 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively). Cash received from stock option exercises for the three
months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was $73,000 and $13.9 million, respectively.
Stock Option Assumptions
The exercise price of all options granted during the three month periods ended March 31, 2007
and 2006 was equal to the market value on the date of grant. The estimated fair value of each
option award granted was determined on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option valuation
model with the following weighted-average assumptions for option grants during the three months
ended March 31, 2007 and 2006:
7
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Three Months Ended |
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March 31, |
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2007 |
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2006 |
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Risk-free interest rate |
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4.79 |
% |
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4.31 |
% |
Expected volatility of common stock |
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65.76 |
% |
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32.16 |
% |
Dividend yield |
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0.0 |
% |
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0.0 |
% |
Expected option term |
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4.75 years |
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4.75 years |
5. USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could
differ from those estimates.
6. SHORT-TERM INVESTMENTS AVAILABLE FOR SALE
Available-for-sale securities are carried at fair value, with the unrealized gains and losses
reported in comprehensive income. The amortized cost of debt securities in this category is
adjusted for amortization of premiums and accretion of discounts to maturity. Such amortization is
included in interest income. Realized gains and losses and declines in value judged to be
other-than-temporary, if any, on available-for-sale securities are included in interest income or
expense. The cost of securities sold is based on the specific identification method. Interest and
dividends on securities classified as available-for-sale are included in interest income.
7. IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
In accordance with SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived
Assets, if indicators of impairment exist, the Company assesses the recoverability of the affected
long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets can be recovered through
undiscounted future operating cash flows. If the carrying amount is not recoverable, the Company
measures the amount of any impairment by comparing the carrying value of the asset to the present
value of the expected future cash flows associated with the use of the asset.
The Company carries as a long-lived asset on its balance sheet a prepaid royalty arising from
its acquisition in February 2004 of Wyeths financial interest in indiplon. The Companys current
and historical operating and cash flow losses and the action letters on indiplon from the FDA are
indicators of impairment for the prepaid royalty. However, the Company believes the future cash
flows to be realized from the prepaid royalty will exceed the assets carrying value. The Company
intends to pursue approvals of indiplon for both sleep onset and maintenance and to seek a
commercialization partner. Accordingly, the Company has not recognized any impairment losses
through March 31, 2007. However, events both within and outside of the Companys control, such as
competition from other insomnia therapeutic agents, disease prevalence, further FDA actions related
to indiplon, the Companys ability to partner indiplon, insomnia market dynamics and general market
conditions may have an impact on the Companys ability to recover the carrying value of this asset
in the future.
8. LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
The Company computes net loss per share in accordance with SFAS No. 128, Earnings Per Share.
Under the provisions of SFAS No. 128, basic net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss
for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted net loss per share is computed by dividing the net loss for the period by the weighted
average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding during the period. Additionally,
potentially dilutive securities, composed of incremental common shares issuable upon the exercise
of stock options and warrants, are excluded from historical diluted loss per share because
8
of their
anti-dilutive effect. Potentially dilutive securities totaled 1.6 million and 2.5 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
9. COMPREHENSIVE LOSS
Comprehensive loss is calculated in accordance with SFAS No. 130, Comprehensive Income. SFAS
No. 130 requires the disclosure of all components of comprehensive loss, including net loss and
changes in equity during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances generated
from non-owner sources. The Companys components of comprehensive loss consist of the net loss and
unrealized gains and losses on short-term investments. For the three months ended March 31, 2007
and 2006, comprehensive loss was $25.5 million and $25.6 million, respectively.
10. REVENUE RECOGNITION
Revenues under collaborative research agreements and grants are recognized as research costs
are incurred over the period specified in the related agreement or as the services are performed.
These agreements are on a best-efforts basis and do not require scientific achievement as a
performance obligation and provide for payment to be made when costs are incurred or the services
are performed. All fees are nonrefundable to the collaborators. Upfront, nonrefundable payments for
license fees, grants, sales force allowance and advance payments for sponsored research revenues
received in excess of amounts earned are classified as deferred revenue and recognized as income
over the contract or development period. Estimating the duration of
the development period includes continual assessment of development
stages and regulatory requirements. Milestone payments are recognized as revenue upon
achievement of pre-defined scientific events, which require substantive effort, and for which
achievement of the milestone was not readily assured at the inception of the agreement. Revenue
related to the sales force allowance is recognized based on the related costs incurred to operate
the sales force.
11. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Research and development (R&D) expenses are recognized as incurred and include related
salaries, contractor fees, clinical trial costs, facilities costs, administrative expenses and
allocations of certain other costs. These expenses result from the Companys independent R&D
efforts as well as efforts associated with collaborations and in-licensing arrangements. In
addition, the Company funds R&D at other companies and research institutions under agreements,
which are generally cancelable. The Company reviews and accrues clinical trial expenses based on
work performed, which relies on estimates of total costs incurred based on patient enrollment,
completion of patient studies and other events. The Company follows
this method since reasonably dependable estimates of the costs
applicable to various stages of a research agreement or clinical
trial can be made. Accrued clinical costs are subject to revisions as
trials progress to completion. Revisions are charged to expense in the period in which the facts
that give rise to the revision become known.
12. INCOME TAXES
On July 13, 2006, the FASB issued FIN 48. Under FIN 48, the impact of an uncertain income tax
position on the income tax return must be recognized at the largest amount that is
more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon audit by the relevant taxing authority. An uncertain
income tax position will not be recognized if it has less than a 50% likelihood of being sustained.
Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties,
accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years
beginning after December 15, 2006.
The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. There were no unrecognized
tax benefits as of the date of adoption. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, the Company
did not recognize an increase in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits. There are no
unrecognized tax benefits included in the balance sheet that would, if recognized, affect the
effective tax rate.
The Companys practice is to recognize interest and/or penalties related to income tax matters
in income tax expense. The Company had no accrual for interest or penalties on the Companys
balance sheets at December 31, 2006 and at March 31, 2007, and has not recognized interest and/or
penalties in the statement of operations for the first quarter of 2007.
The
Company is subject to taxation in the United States and various state jurisdictions. The Companys
tax years for 1993 and forward are subject to examination by the United States and California tax authorities
due to the carryforward of unutilized net operating losses and R&D credits.
9
The adoption of FIN 48 did not impact the Companys financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows. At January 1, 2007, the Company had net deferred tax assets of $210.6
million. The deferred tax assets are primarily composed of federal and state tax net operating
loss carryfowards and federal and state R&D credit carryforwards. Due
to uncertainties surrounding the Companys ability to generate future taxable income to realize
these assets, a full valuation allowance has been established to offset the Companys net deferred
tax asset. Additionally, the future utilization of the Companys net operating loss and R&D credit
carryforwards to offset future taxable income may be subject to a substantial annual limitation as
a result of ownership changes that may have occurred previously or that could occur in the future.
The Company has not yet determined whether such an ownership change has occurred, however, the
Company plans to complete a Section 382/383 analysis regarding the limitation of the net operating
losses and research and development credits. When this analysis is completed, the Company plans to
update its unrecognized tax benefits under FIN 48. Therefore, the Company expects that the
unrecognized tax benefits may change within 12 months of this reporting date. At this time, the
Company cannot estimate how much the unrecognized tax benefits may change. Any carryforwards that
will expire prior to utilization as a result of such limitations will be removed from deferred tax
assets with a corresponding reduction of the valuation allowance. Due to the existence of the
valuation allowance, future changes in the Companys unrecognized tax
benefits will not impact its
effective tax rate.
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ITEM 2: |
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MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
The following Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations section contains forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties. Our
actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements
as a result of various factors, including those set forth below in Part II, Item 1A under the
caption Risk Factors. The interim financial statements and this Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the
Financial Statements and Notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the related
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, both of
which are contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
OVERVIEW
We discover, develop and intend to commercialize drugs for the treatment of neurological and
endocrine-related diseases and disorders. Our product candidates address some of the largest
pharmaceutical markets in the world, including insomnia, anxiety, depression, endometriosis,
irritable bowel syndrome, pain, diabetes and other neurological and endocrine related diseases and
disorders. We currently have nine programs in various stages of research and development, including
six programs in clinical development. While we independently develop many of our product
candidates, we are in a collaboration for one of our progams. Our lead clinical development
program, indiplon, is a drug candidate for the treatment of insomnia.
On May 15, 2006, we received two complete responses from the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) regarding our indiplon capsule and tablet NDAs. These responses indicated that indiplon 5 mg
and 10 mg capsules were approvable (FDA Approvable Letter) and that the 15 mg tablets were not
approvable (FDA Not Approvable Letter).
The FDA Approvable Letter requested that we reanalyze data from certain preclinical and
clinical studies to support approval of indiplon 5 mg and 10 mg capsules for sleep initiation and
middle of the night dosing. The FDA Approvable Letter also requested reexamination of the safety
analyses. We held an end-of-review meeting with the FDA related to the FDA Approvable Letter in
August 2006. This meeting was specifically focused on determining the actions needed to bring
indiplon capsules from Approvable to Approval in the resubmission of the NDA for
indiplon capsules. At the meeting the FDA requested that the resubmission include further
analyses and modifications of analyses previously submitted to address questions raised by the FDA
in the initial review. This reanalysis has been completed. The FDA also requested, and we have
completed, a supplemental pharmacokinetic/food effect profile of indiplon capsules including
several meal types. The NDA for indiplon capsules is targeted to be resubmitted to the FDA by the
end of the second quarter of 2007.
The FDA Not Approvable Letter requested that we reanalyze certain safety and efficacy data and
questioned the sufficiency of the objective sleep maintenance clinical data with the 15 mg tablet
in view of the fact that the majority of our indiplon tablet studies were conducted with doses
higher than 15 mg. We held an end-of-review meeting with
10
the FDA related to the FDA Not Approvable
Letter in October 2006. This meeting was specifically focused on determining the actions needed to
bring indiplon tablets from Not Approvable to Approval in the resubmission of the NDA for indiplon
tablets. The FDA has requested additional long-term safety and efficacy data with the 15 mg dose
for the adult population and the development of a separate dose for the elderly population. In
discussions, we and the FDA noted positive efficacy data for sleep maintenance with both indiplon
capsules and tablets. On the basis of these discussions, we are formulating a strategy to pursue a
sleep maintenance claim for indiplon. The evaluation of indiplon for sleep maintenance is ongoing
and includes both indiplon capsules and tablets.
On June 22, 2006, we and Pfizer agreed to terminate our collaboration and license agreements
to develop and co-promote indiplon effective December 19, 2006. As a result, we reacquired all
worldwide rights for indiplon capsules and tablets and are responsible for any costs associated
with development, registration, marketing and commercialization of indiplon.
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
Our discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations is based upon
financial statements that we have prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to
make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities and expenses,
and related disclosures. On an on-going basis, we evaluate these estimates, including those related
to revenues under collaborative research agreements and grants, clinical trial accruals (research
and development expense), debt, share-based compensation, investments, and fixed assets. Estimates
are based on historical experience, information received from third parties and on various other
assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form
the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not
readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different
assumptions or conditions. The items in our financial statements requiring significant estimates
and judgments are as follows:
Revenues under collaborative research and development agreements are recognized as costs are
incurred over the period specified in the related agreement or as the services are performed. These
agreements are on a best-efforts basis, and do not require scientific achievement as a performance
obligation, and provide for payment to be made when costs are incurred or the services are
performed. All fees are nonrefundable to the collaborators. Upfront, nonrefundable payments for
license fees, grants, sales force allowance and advance payments for sponsored research revenues
received in excess of amounts earned are classified as deferred revenue and recognized as income
over the contract or development period. Estimating the duration of the development period includes
continual assessment of development stages and regulatory requirements. Milestone payments are
recognized as revenue upon achievement of pre-defined scientific events, which requires substantive
effort, and for which achievement of the milestone was not readily assured at the inception of the
agreement.
Research and development (R&D) expenses include related salaries, contractor fees, facilities
costs, administrative expenses and allocations of corporate costs. All such costs are charged to
R&D expense as incurred. These expenses result from our independent R&D efforts as well as efforts
associated with collaborations, grants and in-licensing arrangements. In addition, we fund R&D and
clinical trials at other companies and research institutions under agreements, which are generally
cancelable. We review and accrue clinical trials expense based on work performed, which relies on
estimates of total costs incurred based on patient enrollment, completion of studies and other
events. We follow this method since reasonably dependable estimates of the costs applicable to
various stages of a research agreement or clinical trial can be made. Accrued clinical costs
are subject to revisions as trials progress to completion. Revisions are charged to expense in the
period in which the facts that give rise to the revision become known. Historically, revisions have
not resulted in material changes to R&D costs, however a modification in the protocol of a clinical
trial or cancellation of a trial could result in a charge to our results of operations.
11
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144 (SFAS 144), Accounting
for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, if indicators of impairment exist, we assess
the recoverability of the affected long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of
such assets can be recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows. If impairment is
indicated, we measure the amount of such impairment by comparing the carrying value of the asset to
the estimated fair value of the related asset, which is generally determined based on the present
value of the expected future cash flows.
During the second quarter of 2006, we received two letters from the FDA related to our NDA
submissions for indiplon. These letters indicated that indiplon capsules were approvable and that
indiplon tablets were not approvable. Additionally on June 22, 2006, we announced that we and
Pfizer had agreed to terminate our collaboration and license agreements to develop and co-promote
indiplon. These two events are indicators of potential impairment for our prepaid royalty, which is
carried as a long-lived asset on our balance sheet. This prepaid royalty arose out of our
acquisition, in February 2004, of Wyeths financial interest in indiplon for approximately $95.0
million, consisting of $50.0 million in cash and $45.0 million in our common stock. This
transaction decreased our overall royalty obligation on sales of indiplon from six percent to three
and one-half percent. In accordance with SFAS 144 we performed an analysis of the undiscounted cash
flows related to this prepaid royalty. Based on our current expectations with respect to FDA
approval, commercialization and our plan to partner indiplon, we have determined that the carrying
value of this asset is fully recoverable, and we have not recognized any impairment charge to date.
However, events both within and outside of our control, such as competition from other insomnia
therapeutic agents, disease prevalence, further FDA actions related to indiplon, our ability to
partner indiplon, insomnia market dynamics and general market conditions may have an impact on our
ability to recover the carrying value of this asset in the future. In the event that either the
tablet or capsule or both formulations of indiplon are further delayed, are not eventually approved
by the FDA or are approved by the FDA but not successfully commercialized, an impairment charge
would likely occur. We will continue to monitor this long-lived asset on a quarterly basis.
We grant stock options to purchase our common stock to our employees and directors under the
2003 Incentive Stock Plan, as amended (the 2003 Plan) and grant stock options to certain employees
pursuant to Employment Commencement Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreements. We also grant certain
employees stock bonuses and restricted stock units under the 2003 Plan. Additionally, we have
outstanding options that were granted under option plans from which we no longer make grants. The
benefits provided under all of these plans are subject to the provisions of revised Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (SFAS 123R), Share-Based Payment, which we adopted
effective January 1, 2006. We elected to use the modified prospective application in adopting SFAS
123R and therefore have not restated results for prior periods. The valuation provisions of SFAS
123R apply to new awards and to awards that are outstanding on the adoption date and subsequently
modified or cancelled. Our results of operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 and fiscal
2006 were impacted by the recognition of non-cash expense related to the fair value of our
share-based compensation awards. Share-based compensation expense recognized under SFAS 123R for
the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was $2.4 million and $6.8 million, respectively.
Stock option awards and restricted stock units generally vest over a three to four year period
and expense is ratably recognized over those same time periods. However, due to certain retirement
provisions in our stock plans, share-based compensation expense may be recognized over a shorter
period of time, and in some cases the entire share-based compensation expense may be recognized
upon grant of the share-based compensation award. Employees who are age 55 or older and have five
or more years of service with us are entitled to accelerated vesting of certain unvested
share-based compensation awards upon retirement. This retirement provision leads to variability in
the quarterly expense amounts recognized under SFAS 123R, and therefore individual share-based
compensation awards may impact earnings disproportionately in any individual fiscal quarter.
The determination of fair value of stock-based payment awards on the date of grant using the
Black-Scholes model is affected by our stock price, as well as the input of other subjective
assumptions. These assumptions include, but are not limited to, the expected term of stock options
and our expected stock price volatility over the term of the
awards. Our stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded
options, and changes in the assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimates.
12
SFAS 123R requires forfeitures to be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary,
in subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. If actual forfeitures vary
from our estimates, we will recognize the difference in compensation expense in the period the
actual forfeitures occur or when options vest.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2007 AND 2006
Revenues were $0.1 million for the first quarter of 2007 compared with $19.5 million for the
respective period last year. The decrease in revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2007,
compared with the respective period in 2006, is primarily from revenues recognized in 2006 under
the terminated collaboration agreement with Pfizer, Inc. (Pfizer). During the first quarter of 2006,
we recognized $18.5 million in revenue from Pfizer, $5.9 million in the form of sponsored
development funding, $4.4 million resulting from amortization of up-front license fees, and $8.2
million related to the sales allowance we received from Pfizer for our sales force. During the
first quarter of 2006, we also recognized $1.0 million in revenue
under our collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmith Kline for a milestone related
to clinical advancements. We recognized $18,047 in revenue related to our Michael J. Fox
Foundation grant during the first quarter of 2007.
Research and development expenses decreased to $19.1 million for the first quarter of 2007
compared with $27.7 million for the respective period in 2006. This decrease in research and
development expenses is primarily due to cost savings related to our restructuring in 2006 and
lower external development costs. The decrease in staff levels reduced personnel costs by $4.2
million, from $12.7 million in the first quarter of 2006 compared to $8.5 million in the first
quarter of 2007. Additionally, laboratory costs decreased by $1.2 million in the first quarter of
2007 compared to the same period in 2006. External development costs decreased by $2.3 million to
$5.0 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to $7.3 million in the same period last year.
External development expense for our indiplon clinical program increased by $0.8 million from $0.2
million in the first quarter of 2006 to $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2007, due to efforts
expended in addressing the FDA action letters. External development spending on our GnRH program
increased from $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2006 to $3.5 million in the first quarter of
2007. The increases in our indiplon and GnRH external development costs were offset by decreased
costs in other external development programs. External development spending on our Urocortin 2
program decreased by $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to the same period last
year. Additionally, we incurred external development costs of $2.0 million in the first quarter of
2006 related to the subsequently cancelled APL and H1 programs. We currently have nine programs in
various stages of research and development, including six programs in clinical development.
Sales, general and administrative expenses decreased to $8.3 million for the first quarter of
2007 compared with $19.3 million during the same period last year. The $11.0 million decrease in
expenses from 2006 to 2007 is primarily the result of cost savings related to the staff reductions
in 2006.
Other income decreased from $1.7 million during the first quarter of 2006 to $1.6 million for
the first quarter of 2007. The decrease resulted primarily from lower average cash and investment
balances as a result of operating losses, offset by higher investment returns.
Net loss for the first quarter of 2007 was $25.7 million, or $0.68 per share, compared to
$25.9 million, or $0.69 per share, for the same period in 2006. Revenues have significantly
decreased primarily as a result of the cancellation of our collaboration agreement with Pfizer.
Corresponding expenses have also decreased, primarily due to our
severance program implemented in the
third quarter of 2006.
To date, our revenues have been derived primarily from funded research and development,
achievements of milestones under corporate collaborations, and licensing of product candidates. The
nature and amount of these revenues from period to period may lead to substantial fluctuations in
the results of quarterly revenues and earnings. Accordingly, results and earnings for one period are not predictive of future periods.
Collaborations, including grant revenue, accounted for 100% of our revenue for the quarters ended
March 31, 2007 and 2006.
We expect to incur operating losses for the foreseeable future because of the decrease in
revenues related to the termination of the Pfizer collaboration agreement
and because of the expenses we expect to incur related to indiplon as well as costs to progress
other programs through our pipeline. Future profitability is
13
dependent upon the approval of our
NDAs for indiplon by the FDA and upon acceptance of indiplon by prescribers and consumers.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
At March 31, 2007, our cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments totaled $166.8
million compared with $182.6 million at December 31, 2006. The decrease in cash balances at March
31, 2007 resulted primarily from our net loss of $25.7 million, offset by reduction in accounts
receivable of $7.0 million.
Net cash used in operating activities during the first quarter of 2007 was $14.9 million
compared with $20.4 million during the same period last year. This fluctuation resulted primarily
from the reduction in accounts receivable of $7.0 million, offset by lower non-cash share-based
compensation expense.
Net cash provided by investing activities during the first quarter of 2007 was $13.5 million
compared to $59.4 million for the first quarter of 2006. The fluctuation in net cash provided by
investing activities resulted primarily from the timing differences in investment purchases, sales
and maturities, and the fluctuation of our portfolio mix between cash equivalents and short-term
investment holdings. In addition, purchases of property and equipment decreased from $0.7 million
the first quarter of 2006 to $0.1 million in the first
quarter of 2007. Capital equipment purchases for the full year 2007 are expected to be
approximately $2.0 million.
Net cash used in financing activities during the first quarter of 2007 was $1.2 million
compared with net cash provided by financing activities of $12.5 million for the respective period
last year. This fluctuation resulted primarily from cash proceeds from the issuance of common stock
upon exercise of options which decreased by $13.8 million in the first quarter of 2007 compared to
the same quarter last year. We expect similar fluctuations to occur throughout the year, as the
amount and frequency of stock-related transactions are dependent upon the market performance of our
common stock.
We believe that our existing capital resources, together with interest income and future
payments due under our strategic alliances, will be sufficient to satisfy our current and projected
funding requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, we cannot guarantee that these
capital resources and payments will be sufficient to conduct all of our research and development
programs as planned. The amount and timing of expenditures will vary depending upon a number of
factors, including progress of our research and development programs.
We will require additional funding to continue our research and product development programs,
to conduct preclinical studies and clinical trials, for operating expenses, to pursue regulatory
approvals for our product candidates, for the costs involved in filing and prosecuting patent
applications and enforcing or defending patent claims, if any, the cost of product in-licensing and
any possible acquisitions, and we may require additional funding to establish manufacturing and
marketing capabilities in the future. We intend to seek additional funding through strategic
alliances, and may seek additional funding through public or private sales of our securities,
including equity securities. In addition, we have financed capital purchases and may continue to
pursue opportunities to obtain additional debt financing in the future. However, additional equity
or debt financing might not be available on reasonable terms, if at all, and any additional equity
financings will be dilutive to our stockholders. If adequate funds are not available, we may be
required to curtail significantly one or more of our research or development programs or obtain
funds through arrangements with collaborators or others. This may require us to relinquish rights
to certain of our technologies or product candidates. To the extent that we are unable to obtain
third-party funding for such expenses, we expect that increased expenses will result in increased
losses from operations. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in the development of our
product candidates, or that, if successful; any products marketed will generate sufficient revenues
to enable us to earn a profit.
INTEREST RATE RISK
We are exposed to interest rate risk on our short-term investments. The primary objective of
our investment activities is to preserve principal while at the same time maximizing yields without
significantly increasing risk. To achieve this objective, we invest in highly liquid and high
quality government and other debt securities. To minimize our exposure due to adverse shifts in
interest rates, we invest in short-term securities and ensure that the maximum average maturity of
our investments does not exceed 36 months. If a 10% change in interest rates were to have
14
occurred on March 31, 2007, this change would not have had a material effect on the fair value
of our investment portfolio as of that date. Due to the short holding period of our investments, we
have concluded that we do not have a material financial market risk exposure.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and the information incorporated herein by reference
contain forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Although our
forward-looking statements reflect the good faith judgment of our management, these statements can
only be based on facts and factors currently known by us. Consequently, these forward-looking
statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results and outcomes may
differ materially from results and outcomes discussed in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as
believes, expects, hopes, may, will, plan, intends, estimates, could, should,
would, continue, seeks, proforma, or anticipates, or other similar words (including their
use in the negative), or by discussions of future matters such as the development of new products,
technology enhancements, possible changes in legislation and other statements that are not
historical. These statements include but are not limited to statements under the captions Risk
Factors, and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations as well as other sections in this report. You should be aware that the occurrence of
any of the events discussed under the heading in Part II titled Item 1A. Risk Factors and
elsewhere in this report could substantially harm our business, results of operations and financial
condition and that if any of these events occurs, the trading price of our common stock could
decline and you could lose all or a part of the value of your shares of our common stock.
The cautionary statements made in this report are intended to be applicable to all related
forward-looking statements wherever they may appear in this report. We urge you not to place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report.
Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update our forward-looking statements, even
if new information becomes available in the future.
ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
A discussion of our exposure to, and management of, market risk appears in Part I, Item 2 of
this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q under the heading Interest Rate Risk.
ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information
required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the timelines specified in the Securities and Exchange Commissions rules and
forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our
Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decision
regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures,
management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated,
can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and in reaching
a reasonable level of assurance, management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in
evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and
with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures
as of the end of the quarter covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were
effective at the reasonable assurance level.
There has been no change in our internal control over financial reporting during our most
recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect,
our internal control over financial reporting.
15
PART II: OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
The following Risk Factors do not reflect any material changes to the Risk Factors set forth
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, other than the
revision to the fourth risk factor under Risks Related to Our
Industry to eliminate the reference to
a U.S. patent application controlled by another company and our opposition to the corresponding
patent in Europe due to our execution of a worldwide license agreement with the other company. The
following information sets forth risk factors that could cause our actual results to differ
materially from those contained in forward-looking statements we have made in this Quarterly Report
and those we may make from time to time. If any of the following risks actually occur, our
business, operating results, prospects or financial condition could be harmed. Additional risks not
presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also affect our business
operations.
Risks Related to Our Company
Our near-term success is dependent on the success of our lead product candidate, indiplon, and we
may not receive regulatory approvals for it or our other product candidates or approvals may be
delayed.
Based on the results of preclinical studies and Phase I, Phase II and Phase III clinical
trials on indiplon, as well as a non-clinical data package related to indiplon manufacturing,
formulation and commercial product development, we assembled and filed with the FDA New Drug
Applications (NDAs) for both indiplon capsules and indiplon tablets. On May 15, 2006, we received
two complete responses from the FDA regarding our indiplon capsule and tablet NDAs. These responses
indicated that indiplon 5 mg and 10 mg capsules were approvable (FDA Approvable Letter) and that
the 15 mg tablets were not approvable (FDA Not Approvable Letter).
The FDA Approvable Letter requested that we reanalyze data from certain preclinical and
clinical studies to support approval of indiplon 5 mg and 10 mg capsules for sleep initiation and
middle of the night dosing. The FDA Approvable Letter also requested reexamination of the safety
analyses. We held an end-of-review meeting with the FDA related to the FDA Approvable Letter in
August 2006. This meeting was specifically focused on determining the actions needed to bring
indiplon capsules from Approvable to Approval in the resubmission of the NDA for indiplon capsules.
At the meeting the FDA requested that the resubmission include further analyses and modifications
of analyses previously submitted to address questions raised by the FDA in the initial review. This
reanalysis has been completed. The FDA also requested, and we have completed, a supplemental
pharmacokinetic/food effect profile of indiplon capsules including several meal types. The NDA for
indiplon capsules is targeted to be resubmitted to the FDA by the end of the second quarter of
2007.
The FDA Not Approvable Letter requested that we reanalyze certain safety and efficacy data and
questioned the sufficiency of the objective sleep maintenance clinical data with the 15 mg tablet
in view of the fact that the majority of our indiplon tablet studies were conducted with doses
higher than 15 mg. We held an end-of-review meeting with the FDA related to the FDA Not Approvable
Letter in October 2006. This meeting was specifically focused on determining the actions needed to
bring indiplon tablets from Not Approvable to Approval in the resubmission of the NDA for indiplon
tablets. The FDA has requested additional long-term safety and efficacy data with the 15 mg dose
for the adult population and the development of a separate dose for the elderly population. In
discussions, we and the FDA noted positive efficacy data for sleep maintenance with both indiplon
capsules and tablets. On the basis of these discussions, we are formulating a strategy to pursue a
sleep maintenance claim for indiplon. The evaluation of indiplon for sleep maintenance is ongoing
and includes both indiplon capsules and tablets.
If we are unable to conduct the clinical trials to support a sleep maintenance claim for
indiplon or if these clinical trials do not demonstrate the safety and efficacy of indiplon for
sleep maintenance, we may not be able to resubmit the NDA for this indication. If we do obtain
positive results from these clinical trials, we would then refile the NDA for indiplon for sleep
maintenance.
The process of preparing and resubmitting the NDAs will require significant resources and
could be time consuming and subject to unanticipated delays and cost. Upon resubmission, the FDA
could again refuse to approve
16
one or both NDAs, or could still require additional data analysis or clinical trials, which
would require substantial expenditures by us and could further delay the approval process. Even if
our indiplon NDAs are approved, the FDA may determine that our data do not support elements of the
labeling we have requested. In such a case, the labeling actually granted by the FDA could limit
the commercial success of the product. The FDA could also require Phase IV, or post-marketing,
trials to study the long-term effects of indiplon and could withdraw its approval based on the
results of those trials. We face the risk that for any of the reasons described above, as well as
other reasons set forth herein, indiplon may never be approved by the FDA or commercialized
anywhere in the world.
If we are unable to refile one or both NDAs, or the FDA refuses to accept or approve the
resubmitted NDAs for any reason or we experience a significant delay in approval and subsequent
commercialization of indiplon, our business and reputation would be harmed and our stock price
would decline.
If we cannot raise additional funding, we may be unable to complete development of our product
candidates.
We may require additional funding to continue our research and product development programs,
including preclinical testing and clinical trials of our product candidates, for operating expenses
and to pursue regulatory approvals for product candidates, such as indiplon. We also may require
additional funding to establish manufacturing and marketing capabilities in the future. We believe
that our existing capital resources, together with interest income, and future payments due under
our strategic alliances, will be sufficient to satisfy our current and projected funding
requirements for at least the next 12 months. However, these resources might be insufficient to
conduct research and development programs as planned. If we cannot obtain adequate funds, we may be
required to curtail significantly one or more of our research and development programs or obtain
funds through additional arrangements with corporate collaborators or others that may require us to
relinquish rights to some of our technologies or product candidates.
Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including:
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continued scientific progress in our research and development programs; |
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the magnitude of our research and development programs; |
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progress with preclinical testing and clinical trials; |
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the time and costs involved in obtaining regulatory approvals; |
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the costs involved in filing and pursuing patent applications and enforcing patent claims; |
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competing technological and market developments; |
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the establishment of additional strategic alliances; |
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the cost of commercialization activities and arrangements, including manufacturing of
our product candidates; and |
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the cost of product in-licensing and any possible acquisitions. |
We intend to seek additional funding through strategic alliances, and may seek additional
funding through public or private sales of our securities, including equity securities. In
addition, we have financed capital purchases and may continue to pursue opportunities to obtain
additional debt financing in the future. However, additional equity or debt financing might not be
available on reasonable terms, if at all. Any additional equity financings will be dilutive to our
stockholders and any additional debt financings may involve operating covenants that restrict our
business.
Because of the termination of our collaboration with Pfizer to develop and co-promote indiplon, we
must identify a new partner and enter into a collaboration agreement with them or develop,
commercialize, market and sell indiplon by ourselves.
17
On June 22, 2006, we announced that the Company and Pfizer Inc. (Pfizer) had agreed to
terminate our collaboration and license agreements to develop and co-promote indiplon. Under the
collaboration, Pfizer had agreed to:
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fund substantially all third-party costs related to future indiplon development,
manufacturing and commercialization activities; |
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fund a 200-person Neurocrine sales force that would initially promote Zoloft® and, upon
approval of the indiplon NDAs, co-promote indiplon in the United States; |
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be responsible for obtaining all regulatory approvals outside of the United States and
regulatory approvals in the United States after approval of the first indiplon NDA; and |
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be responsible for sales and marketing of indiplon worldwide. |
As a result of termination of this collaboration, we reacquired all worldwide rights for
indiplon capsules and tablets. We received reimbursement of certain indiplon expenses incurred or
committed prior to the June 22, 2006 notice date as well as certain ongoing expenses through
December 19, 2006, the effective date of termination. We are responsible for any costs associated
with additional data or clinical trials that may be required for resubmission of the indiplon NDAs.
We will seek another partner or partners, at an appropriate time, to assist us in the
worldwide development and commercialization of indiplon or develop, commercialize, market and sell
indiplon by ourselves. We face competition in our search for partners with whom we may collaborate.
As a result, we may not be successful in finding another collaboration partner on favorable terms,
or at all, and any failure to obtain a new partner on favorable terms could adversely affect
indiplon development, commercialization and future sales, which would harm our business.
Identifying a new partner and entering into a collaboration agreement with them or developing the
necessary infrastructure to commercialize, market and sell indiplon ourselves could cause delays in
obtaining regulatory approvals and commercialization of indiplon, which would negatively impact our
business. If we choose to commercialize, market and sell indiplon ourselves, we will be required to
substantially increase our internal sales, distribution and marketing capabilities. The development
of the infrastructure necessary to commercialize, market and sell indiplon will require substantial
resources and may divert the attention of our management and key personnel and negatively impact
our other product development efforts. Moreover, we may not be able to hire a sales force that is
sufficient in size or has adequate expertise.
Pursuant to the collaboration agreement with Pfizer, our sales force ceased detailing Pfizers
antidepressant Zoloft® to psychiatrists as of June 30, 2006, the date of expiration of
Zoloft® patent exclusivity. Pfizer notified us that as of July 1, 2006, Pfizer will no
longer reimburse or support our sales force. Consequently, we terminated the entire sales force in
July 2006 and incurred expenses of approximately $5.9 million in the third quarter of 2006 related
to salary continuation, outplacement services, and other costs related to eliminating the sales
force. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully rebuild the sales force in a
timely manner, or at all, should indiplon be approved by the FDA.
We may become involved in securities class action litigation that could divert managements
attention and harm our business.
The market price of our common stock has declined significantly since our May 16, 2006
announcement of the FDAs action letters with respect to indiplon. In the past, following periods
of volatility in the market price of a particular companys securities, securities class action
litigation has often been brought against the company. We may become involved in this type of
litigation in the future, which would be expensive and divert managements attention and resources
from operating the business. Additionally, we may not be successful in having any such suit
dismissed or settled within the limits of our insurance.
Even if we ultimately receive an approval letter for indiplon or any other product, we may be
unable to commercialize such products immediately upon receipt of such letter.
18
Commercialization of a product for which we have received an approval letter from the FDA
could be delayed for a number of reasons, some of which are outside of our control, including
delays in the FDAs issuance of approvals for our trademarks or delays in the completion of
required procedures by agencies other than the FDA, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration
(DEA). For example, one of our competitors received an approval letter from the FDA for its
proprietary product. In connection with the approval, the FDA recommended that the competitors
product be classified as a Schedule IV controlled substance by the DEA. However, because the
Federal governments administrative process for formally classifying the product as a Schedule IV
controlled substance was not yet complete, the competitors product launch was delayed several
months. Indiplon, like the competitors product, and like all non-benzodiazepine hypnotics, is
expected to be a Schedule IV controlled substance requiring classification by the DEA. There can be
no assurance that we will receive DEA scheduling promptly. If we receive an approval letter for
indiplon and are unable to commercialize indiplon promptly thereafter, our business and financial
position may be materially adversely affected due to reduced revenue from product sales during the
period that commercialization is delayed. In addition, the exclusivity period, or the time during
which the FDA will prevent generic pharmaceuticals from introducing a generic copy of the product,
begins to run upon receipt of the approval letter from the FDA and, therefore, to the extent we
are unable to commercialize a product upon receipt of an approval letter, our long-term product
sales and revenues could be adversely affected.
Our clinical trials may fail to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of our product candidates,
which could prevent or significantly delay their regulatory approval.
Any failure or substantial delay in completing clinical trials for our product candidates may
severely harm our business. Before obtaining regulatory approval for the sale of any of our
potential products, we must subject these product candidates to extensive preclinical and clinical
testing to demonstrate their safety and efficacy for humans. Clinical trials are expensive,
time-consuming and may take years to complete.
In connection with the clinical trials of indiplon and our other product candidates, we face
the risks that:
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the product may not prove to be effective; |
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we may discover that a product candidate may cause harmful side effects; |
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the results may not replicate the results of earlier, smaller trials; |
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we or the FDA or similar foreign regulatory authorities may suspend the trials; |
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the results may not be statistically significant; |
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patient recruitment may be slower than expected; and |
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patients may drop out of the trials. |
Late stage clinical trials are often conducted with patients having the most advanced stages
of disease. During the course of treatment, these patients can die or suffer other adverse medical
effects for reasons that may not be related to the pharmaceutical agent being tested but which can
nevertheless adversely affect clinical trial results.
We have a history of losses and expect to incur losses and negative operating cash flows for the
near future, and we may never achieve sustained profitability.
Since our inception, we have incurred significant net losses, including net losses of $107.2
million and $22.2 million for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. As a result
of ongoing operating losses, we had an accumulated deficit of $407.4 million and $300.1 million as
of December 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. We do not expect to be profitable for the year ended
December 31, 2007. Additionally, we will be responsible for any costs associated with additional
data or clinical trials that may be required for resubmission of the indiplon NDAs.
19
We have not yet obtained regulatory approvals of any products and, consequently, have not
generated revenues from the sale of products. Even if we succeed in developing and commercializing
one or more of our drugs, we may not be profitable. We also expect to continue to incur significant
operating and capital expenditures as we:
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seek regulatory approvals for our product candidates; |
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develop, formulate, manufacture and commercialize our drugs; |
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in-license or acquire new product development opportunities; |
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implement additional internal systems and infrastructure; and |
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hire additional clinical, scientific and marketing personnel. |
We also expect to experience negative cash flow for the near future as we fund our operating
losses, in-licensing or acquisition opportunities, and capital expenditures. We will need to
generate significant revenues to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow. We may
not be able to generate these revenues, and we may never achieve profitability in the future. Our
failure to achieve or maintain profitability could negatively impact the market price of our common
stock. Even if we become profitable, we cannot assure you that we would be able to sustain or
increase profitability on a quarterly or annual basis.
Because our operating results may vary significantly in future periods, our stock price may
decline.
Our quarterly revenues, expenses and operating results have fluctuated in the past and are
likely to fluctuate significantly in the future. Our revenues are unpredictable and may fluctuate,
among other reasons, due to our achievement of product development objectives and milestones,
clinical trial enrollment and expenses, research and development expenses and the timing and nature
of contract manufacturing and contract research payments. High portions of our costs are
predetermined on an annual basis, due in part to our significant research and development costs.
Thus, small declines in revenue could disproportionately affect operating results in a quarter.
Because of these factors, our operating results in one or more future quarters may fail to meet the
expectations of securities analysts or investors, which could cause our stock price to decline.
We depend on continuing our current collaboration and developing additional collaborations to
develop and commercialize our product candidates.
Our strategy for developing and commercializing our products is dependent upon maintaining our
current arrangements and establishing new arrangements with research collaborators, corporate
collaborators and others. We have an active collaboration agreement with GlaxoSmithKline and
previously have had collaborations with Pfizer, Wyeth, Johnson & Johnson, and Eli Lilly and
Company. We historically have been dependent upon these corporate collaborators to provide adequate
funding for a number of our programs. Under these arrangements, our corporate collaborators are
typically responsible for:
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selecting compounds for subsequent development as drug candidates; |
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conducting preclinical studies and clinical trials and obtaining required regulatory
approvals for these drug candidates; and |
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manufacturing and commercializing any resulting drugs. |
Because we expect to continue to rely heavily on corporate collaborators including for the
future worldwide development and commercialization of indiplon, the development of our projects
would be substantially delayed if one or more of our current or future collaborators:
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failed to select a compound that we have discovered for subsequent development into
marketable products; |
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failed to gain the requisite regulatory approvals of these products; |
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did not successfully commercialize products that we originate; |
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did not conduct its collaborative activities in a timely manner; |
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did not devote sufficient time and resources to our partnered programs or potential products; |
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terminated its alliance with us; |
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developed, either alone or with others, products that may compete with our products; |
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disputed our respective allocations of rights to any products or technology developed
during our collaborations; or |
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merged with a third party that wants to terminate the collaboration. |
These issues and possible disagreements with current or future corporate collaborators could
lead to delays in the collaborative research, development or commercialization of many of our
product candidates. Furthermore, disagreements with these parties could require or result in
litigation or arbitration, which would be time-consuming and expensive. If any of these issues
arise, it may delay the development and commercialization of drug candidates and, ultimately, our
generation of product revenues.
We license some of our core technologies and drug candidates from third parties. If we default on
any of our obligations under those licenses, we could lose our rights to those technologies and
drug candidates.
We are dependent on licenses from third parties for some of our key technologies. These
licenses typically subject us to various commercialization, reporting and other obligations. If we
fail to comply with these obligations, we could lose important rights. For example, we have
licensed indiplon from DOV Pharmaceutical, Inc. In addition, we license some of the core
technologies used in our collaborations from third parties, including the CRF receptor we license
from The Salk Institute and use in our CRF program, Urocortin 2 which we license from Research
Development Foundation, and the Adenosine2A receptor antagonist we license from Almirall
Prodesfarma, S.A. Other in-licensed technologies, such as the GnRH receptor we license from Mount
Sinai School of Medicine, will be important for future collaborations for our GnRH program. If we
were to default on our obligations under any of our licenses, we could lose some or all of our
rights to develop, market and sell products covered by these licenses. Likewise, if we were to lose
our rights under a license to use proprietary research tools, it could adversely affect our
existing collaborations or adversely affect our ability to form new collaborations. We also face
the risk that our licensors could, for a number of reasons, lose patent protection or lose their
rights to the technologies we have licensed, thereby impairing or extinguishing our rights under
our licenses with them.
Because the development of our product candidates is subject to a substantial degree of
technological uncertainty, we may not succeed in developing any of our product candidates.
All of our product candidates are in research, clinical development or in registration with
the FDA. Only a small number of research and development programs ultimately result in commercially
successful drugs. Potential products that appear to be promising at early stages of development may
not reach the market for a number of reasons. These reasons include the possibilities that the
potential products may:
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be found ineffective or cause harmful side effects during preclinical studies or clinical trials; |
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fail to receive necessary regulatory approvals on a timely basis or at all; |
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be precluded from commercialization by proprietary rights of third parties; |
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be difficult to manufacture on a large scale; or |
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be uneconomical to commercialize or fail to achieve market acceptance. |
21
If any of our products encounters any of these potential problems, we may never successfully
market that product.
Since indiplon is our most advanced product program, our business and reputation would be
particularly harmed, and our stock price likely would be harmed, if we fail to receive necessary
regulatory approvals on a timely basis or achieve market acceptance.
We have limited marketing experience, sales force or distribution capabilities, and if our
products are approved, we may not be able to commercialize them successfully.
Although we do not currently have any marketable products, our ability to produce revenues
ultimately depends on our ability to sell our products if and when they are approved by the FDA. We
currently have limited experience in marketing and selling pharmaceutical products. If we fail to
establish successful marketing and sales capabilities or fail to enter into successful marketing
arrangements with third parties, our product revenues will suffer.
The independent clinical investigators and contract research organizations that we rely upon to
conduct our clinical trials may not be diligent, careful or timely, and may make mistakes, in the
conduct of our trials.
We depend on independent clinical investigators and contract research organizations, or CROs,
to conduct our clinical trials under their agreements with us. The investigators are not our
employees, and we cannot control the amount or timing of resources that they devote to our
programs. If independent investigators fail to devote sufficient time and resources to our drug
development programs, or if their performance is substandard, it may delay or prevent the approval
of our FDA applications and our introduction of new drugs. The CROs we contract with for execution
of our clinical trials play a significant role in the conduct of the trials and the subsequent
collection and analysis of data. Failure of the CROs to meet their obligations could adversely
affect clinical development of our products. Moreover, these independent investigators and CROs may
also have relationships with other commercial entities, some of which may compete with us. If
independent investigators and CROs assist our competitors at our expense, it could harm our
competitive position.
We have no manufacturing capabilities. If third-party manufacturers of our product candidates fail
to devote sufficient time and resources to our concerns, or if their performance is substandard,
our clinical trials and product introductions may be delayed and our costs may rise.
We have in the past utilized, and intend to continue to utilize, third-party manufacturers to
produce the drug compounds we use in our clinical trials and for the potential commercialization of
our future products. We have no experience in manufacturing products for commercial purposes and do
not currently have any manufacturing facilities. Consequently, we depend on, and will continue to
depend on, several contract manufacturers for all production of products for development and
commercial purposes. If we are unable to obtain or retain third-party manufacturers, we will not be
able to develop or commercialize our products. The manufacture of our products for clinical trials
and commercial purposes is subject to specific FDA regulations. Our third-party manufacturers might
not comply with FDA regulations relating to manufacturing our products for clinical trials and
commercial purposes or other regulatory requirements now or in the future. Our reliance on contract
manufacturers also exposes us to the following risks:
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contract manufacturers may encounter difficulties in achieving volume production,
quality control and quality assurance, and also may experience shortages in qualified
personnel. As a result, our contract manufacturers might not be able to meet our clinical
schedules or adequately manufacture our products in commercial quantities when required; |
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switching manufacturers may be difficult because the number of potential manufacturers
is limited. It may be difficult or impossible for us to find a replacement manufacturer
quickly on acceptable terms, or at all; |
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our contract manufacturers may not perform as agreed or may not remain in the contract
manufacturing business for the time required to successfully produce, store or distribute
our products; and |
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drug manufacturers are subject to ongoing periodic unannounced inspection by the FDA,
the DEA, and corresponding state agencies to ensure strict compliance with good
manufacturing practices and other government regulations and corresponding foreign
standards. We do not have control over third-party manufacturers compliance with these
regulations and standards. |
Our current dependence upon third parties for the manufacture of our products may harm our
profit margin, if any, on the sale of our future products and our ability to develop and deliver
products on a timely and competitive basis.
Potential future impairments under SFAS 144 could adversely affect our future results of
operations and financial position.
In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, Accounting for the
Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, we assess our long-lived assets for impairment
quarterly or whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an
asset may not be recoverable. If indicators of impairment exist, we assess the recoverability of
the affected long-lived assets by determining whether the carrying value of such assets can be
recovered through undiscounted future operating cash flows. If the carrying amount is not
recoverable, we measure the amount of any impairment by comparing the carrying value of the asset
to the present value of the expected future cash flows (fair value) associated with the use of the
asset. If the carrying amount of the asset were determined to be impaired, an impairment loss to
write-down the carrying value of the asset to fair value would be required.
For example, our March 31, 2007 balance sheet reflects $94.0 million of prepaid royalties
related to our acquisition in February 2004 of Wyeths financial interest in indiplon for
approximately $95.0 million, consisting of $50.0 million in cash and $45.0 million in our common
stock. This transaction decreased our overall royalty obligation on sales of indiplon from six
percent to three and one-half percent.
This transaction has been recorded as a long-term asset and will be amortized over the
commercialization period of indiplon, based primarily upon indiplon sales. Given the FDA letters we
received on our NDA submissions for indiplon and the subsequent cancellation of the collaboration
agreement with Pfizer, we determined that indicators of potential impairment existed. We performed
the undiscounted cash flow analysis and determined that the carrying value of the prepaid royalty
was recoverable as of March 31, 2007. However, events both within and outside of our control, such
as competition from other insomnia therapeutic agents, disease prevalence, further FDA actions
related to indiplon, our ability to partner indiplon, insomnia market dynamics and general market
conditions may have an impact on our ability to recover the carrying value of this asset in the
future.
If we determine that the sum of the expected future undiscounted cash flows relating to this
prepaid royalty is less than the carrying amount of the asset, the asset would be impaired, and we
would be required to record a non-cash impairment loss to write-down the carrying value of the
asset to fair value. A material reduction in earnings resulting from such a charge could cause us
to fail to be profitable in the period in which the charge is taken or otherwise to fail to meet
the expectations of investors and securities analysts, which could cause the price of our stock to
decline.
If we are unable to retain and recruit qualified scientists or if any of our key senior executives
discontinues his or her employment with us, it may delay our development efforts.
We are highly dependent on the principal members of our management and scientific staff. The
loss of any of these people could impede the achievement of our development objectives.
Furthermore, recruiting and retaining qualified scientific personnel to perform research and
development work in the future is critical to our success. We may be unable to attract and retain
personnel on acceptable terms given the competition among biotechnology, pharmaceutical and health
care companies, universities and non-profit research institutions for experienced scientists. In
addition, we rely on a significant number of consultants to assist us in formulating our research
and development strategy. All of our consultants are employed by employers other than us. They may
have commitments to, or advisory or consulting agreements with, other entities that may limit their
availability to us.
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We may be subject to claims that we or our employees have wrongfully used or disclosed alleged
trade secrets of their former employers.
As is commonplace in the biotechnology industry, we employ individuals who were previously
employed at other biotechnology or pharmaceutical companies, including our competitors or potential
competitors. Although no claims against us are currently pending, we may be subject to claims that
these employees or we have inadvertently or otherwise used or disclosed trade secrets or other
proprietary information of their former employers. Litigation may be necessary to defend against
these claims. Even if we are successful in defending against these claims, litigation could result
in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
Governmental and third-party payors may impose sales and pharmaceutical pricing controls on our
products that could limit our product revenues and delay profitability.
The continuing efforts of government and third-party payors to contain or reduce the costs of
health care through various means may reduce our potential revenues. These payors efforts could
decrease the price that we receive for any products we may develop and sell in the future. In
addition, third-party insurance coverage may not be available to patients for any products we
develop. If government and third-party payors do not provide adequate coverage and reimbursement
levels for our products, or if price controls are enacted, our product revenues will suffer.
If physicians and patients do not accept our products, we may not recover our investment.
The commercial success of our products, if they are approved for marketing, will depend upon
the acceptance of our products as safe and effective by the medical community and patients.
The market acceptance of our products could be affected by a number of factors, including:
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the timing of receipt of marketing approvals; |
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the safety and efficacy of the products; |
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the success of existing products addressing our target markets or the
emergence of equivalent or superior products; and |
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the cost-effectiveness of the products. |
In addition, market acceptance depends on the effectiveness of our marketing strategy, and, to
date, we have very limited sales and marketing experience or capabilities. If the medical community
and patients do not ultimately accept our products as being safe, effective, superior and/or
cost-effective, we may not recover our investment.
Compliance with changing regulation of corporate governance and public disclosure may result in
additional expenses.
Changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public
disclosure, including the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, new SEC regulations and Nasdaq rules, are
creating uncertainty for companies such as ours. These new or changed laws, regulations and
standards are subject to varying interpretations in many cases due to their lack of specificity,
and as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by
regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance
matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices.
We are committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance and public disclosure. As a
result, our efforts to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards have resulted in, and
are likely to continue to result in, increased general and administrative expenses and management
time related to compliance activities. In particular, our efforts to comply with Section 404 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the related regulations regarding our required assessment of our
internal controls over financial reporting and our independent registered public accounting firms
audit of that assessment requires the commitment of significant financial and managerial resources.
We expect these efforts to require the continued commitment of significant resources. If we fail to
comply with new or changed laws,
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regulations and standards, our reputation may be harmed and we might be subject to sanctions
or investigation by regulatory authorities, such as the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any
such action could adversely affect our financial results and the market price of our common stock.
The price of our common stock is volatile.
The market prices for securities of biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies historically
have been highly volatile, and the market has from time to time experienced significant price and
volume fluctuations that are unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. Over
the course of the last 12 months, the price of our common stock has ranged from approximately $8
per share to approximately $65 per share. The market price of our common stock may fluctuate in
response to many factors, including:
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developments related to the FDA approval process for indiplon; |
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the results of our clinical trials; |
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developments concerning our strategic alliance agreements; |
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announcements of technological innovations or new therapeutic products by us or others; |
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developments in patent or other proprietary rights; |
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future sales of our common stock by existing stockholders; |
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comments by securities analysts; |
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general market conditions; |
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fluctuations in our operating results; |
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government regulation; |
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health care reimbursement; |
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failure of any of our product candidates, if approved, to achieve commercial success; and |
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public concern as to the safety of our drugs. |
Risks Related to Our Industry
We may not receive regulatory approvals for our product candidates or approvals may be delayed.
Regulation by government authorities in the United States and foreign countries is a
significant factor in the development, manufacture and marketing of our proposed products and in
our ongoing research and product development activities. Any failure to receive the regulatory
approvals necessary to commercialize our product candidates would harm our business. The process of
obtaining these approvals and the subsequent compliance with federal and state statutes and
regulations require spending substantial time and financial resources. If we fail or our
collaborators or licensees fail to obtain or maintain, or encounter delays in obtaining or
maintaining, regulatory approvals, it could adversely affect the marketing of any products we
develop, our ability to receive product or royalty revenues, our recovery of prepaid royalties, and
our liquidity and capital resources. All of our products are in research and development, and we
have not yet received regulatory approval to commercialize any product from the FDA or any other
regulatory body. In addition, we have limited experience in filing and pursuing applications
necessary to gain regulatory approvals, which may impede our ability to obtain such approvals.
In particular, human therapeutic products are subject to rigorous preclinical testing and
clinical trials and other approval procedures of the FDA and similar regulatory authorities in
foreign countries. The FDA regulates, among
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other things, the development, testing, manufacture, safety, efficacy, record keeping,
labeling, storage, approval, advertising, promotion, sale and distribution of biopharmaceutical
products. Securing FDA approval requires the submission of extensive preclinical and clinical data
and supporting information to the FDA for each indication to establish the product candidates
safety and efficacy. The approval process may take many years to complete and may involve ongoing
requirements for post-marketing studies. Any FDA or other regulatory approval of our product
candidates, once obtained, may be withdrawn. If our potential products are marketed abroad, they
will also be subject to extensive regulation by foreign governments.
We face intense competition, and if we are unable to compete effectively, the demand for our
products, if any, may be reduced.
The biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are subject to rapid and intense technological
change. We face, and will continue to face, competition in the development and marketing of our
product candidates from academic institutions, government agencies, research institutions and
biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies.
Competition may also arise from, among other things:
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other drug development technologies; |
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methods of preventing or reducing the incidence of disease, including vaccines; and |
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new small molecule or other classes of therapeutic agents. |
Developments by others may render our product candidates or technologies obsolete or
noncompetitive.
We are performing research on or developing products for the treatment of several disorders
including insomnia, anxiety, depression, endometriosis, irritable bowel syndrome, pain, Parkinsons
Disease, and other neuro-endocrine related diseases and disorders, and there are a number of
competitors to products in our research pipeline. If one or more of our competitors products or
programs are successful, the market for our products may be reduced or eliminated.
Compared to us, many of our competitors and potential competitors have substantially greater:
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capital resources; |
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research and development resources, including personnel and technology; |
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regulatory experience; |
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preclinical study and clinical testing experience; |
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manufacturing and marketing experience; and |
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production facilities. |
If we are unable to protect our intellectual property, our competitors could develop and market
products based on our discoveries, which may reduce demand for our products.
Our success will depend on our ability to, among other things:
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obtain patent protection for our products; |
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preserve our trade secrets; |
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prevent third parties from infringing upon our proprietary rights; and |
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operate without infringing upon the proprietary rights of others, both in the United
States and internationally. |
Because of the substantial length of time and expense associated with bringing new products
through the development and regulatory approval processes in order to reach the marketplace, the
pharmaceutical industry places considerable importance on obtaining patent and trade secret
protection for new technologies, products and processes. Accordingly, we intend to seek patent
protection for our proprietary technology and compounds. However, we face the risk that we may not
obtain any of these patents and that the breadth of claims we obtain, if any, may not provide
adequate protection of our proprietary technology or compounds.
We also rely upon unpatented trade secrets and improvements, unpatented know-how and
continuing technological innovation to develop and maintain our competitive position, which we seek
to protect, in part, through confidentiality agreements with our commercial collaborators,
employees and consultants. We also have invention or patent assignment agreements with our
employees and some, but not all, of our commercial collaborators and consultants. However, if our
employees, commercial collaborators or consultants breach these agreements, we may not have
adequate remedies for any such breach, and our trade secrets may otherwise become known or
independently discovered by our competitors.
In addition, although we own a number of patents, the issuance of a patent is not conclusive
as to its validity or enforceability, and third parties may challenge the validity or
enforceability of our patents. We cannot assure you how much protection, if any, will be given to
our patents if we attempt to enforce them and they are challenged in court or in other proceedings.
It is possible that a competitor may successfully challenge our patents or that challenges will
result in limitations of their coverage. Moreover, competitors may infringe our patents or
successfully avoid them through design innovation. To prevent infringement or unauthorized use, we
may need to file infringement claims, which are expensive and time-consuming. In addition, in an
infringement proceeding a court may decide that a patent of ours is not valid or is unenforceable,
or may refuse to stop the other party from using the technology at issue on the grounds that our
patents do not cover its technology. Interference proceedings declared by the United States Patent
and Trademark Office (USPTO) may be necessary to determine the priority of inventions with respect
to our patent applications or those of our licensors. Litigation or interference proceedings may
fail and, even if successful, may result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
We cannot assure you that we will be able to prevent misappropriation of our proprietary rights,
particularly in countries where the laws may not protect such rights as fully as in the United
States.
The technologies we use in our research as well as the drug targets we select may infringe the
patents or violate the proprietary rights of third parties.
We cannot assure you that third parties will not assert patent or other intellectual property
infringement claims against us or our collaborators with respect to technologies used in potential
products. If a patent infringement suit were brought against us or our collaborators, we or our
collaborators could be forced to stop or delay developing, manufacturing or selling potential
products that are claimed to infringe a third partys intellectual property unless that party
grants us or our collaborators rights to use its intellectual property. In such cases, we could be
required to obtain licenses to patents or proprietary rights of others in order to continue to
commercialize our products. However, we may not be able to obtain any licenses required under any
patents or proprietary rights of third parties on acceptable terms, or at all. Even if our
collaborators or we were able to obtain rights to the third partys intellectual property, these
rights may be non-exclusive, thereby giving our competitors access to the same intellectual
property. Ultimately, we may be unable to commercialize some of our potential products or may have
to cease some of our business operations as a result of patent infringement claims, which could
severely harm our business.
We face potential product liability exposure far in excess of our limited insurance coverage.
The use of any of our potential products in clinical trials, and the sale of any approved
products, may expose us to liability claims. These claims might be made directly by consumers,
health care providers, pharmaceutical companies or others selling our products. We have obtained
limited product liability insurance coverage for our clinical trials in the amount of $10 million
per occurrence and $10 million in the aggregate. However, our insurance may not reimburse us or may
not be sufficient to reimburse us for any expenses or losses we may suffer. Moreover,
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insurance coverage is becoming increasingly expensive, and we may not be able to maintain
insurance coverage at a reasonable cost or in sufficient amounts to protect us against losses due
to liability. We intend to expand our insurance coverage to include the sale of commercial products
if we obtain marketing approval for product candidates in development, but we may be unable to
obtain commercially reasonable product liability insurance for any products approved for marketing.
On occasion, juries have awarded large judgments in class action lawsuits based on drugs that had
unanticipated side effects. A successful product liability claim or series of claims brought
against us would decrease our cash reserves and could cause our stock price to fall.
Our activities involve hazardous materials, and we may be liable for any resulting contamination
or injuries.
Our research activities involve the controlled use of hazardous materials. We cannot eliminate
the risk of accidental contamination or injury from these materials. If an accident occurs, a court
may hold us liable for any resulting damages, which may harm our results of operations and cause us
to use a substantial portion of our cash reserves, which would force us to seek additional
financing.
ITEM 6. EXHIBITS
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3.1
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Restated Certificate of Incorporation (1) |
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3.2
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Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation (2) |
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3.3
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Bylaws (1) |
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3.4
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Certificate of Amendment of Bylaws (3) |
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3.5
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Certificate of Amendment of Bylaws (4) |
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31.1
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Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
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31.2
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Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rules 13a-14(a) and 15d-14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
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Certifications of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
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(1) |
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Incorporated by reference to the Companys Registration Statement on Form S-1
(Registration No. 333-03172) |
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(2) |
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Incorporated by reference to the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on
August 9, 2006 |
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(3) |
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Incorporated by reference to the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 1997 filed on April 10, 1998. |
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(4) |
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Incorporated by reference to the Companys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on
August 9, 2004 |
* These certifications are being furnished solely to accompany this quarterly report pursuant to 18.
U.S.C. Section 1350, and are not being filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 and are not to be incorporated by reference into any filing of Neurocrine Biosciences,
Inc., whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation
language in such filing.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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Dated: May 4, 2007
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/s/ Timothy P. Coughlin
Timothy P. Coughlin
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Vice President and |
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Chief Financial Officer |
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(Duly authorized officer and |
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Principal Financial Officer) |
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